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July 21, 1900.]
THE GORDON HALL, SHELLED.
The Gordon Hall, the refuge place at Tien- tsin, appears to have been a favourite target for the artillery outside Tientsin, and at last accounts the famous tower was completely destroyed.
THE CHINESE ARTILLERY.
At the opening of the bombardment the Chinese artillery fire was very inaccurate. but they soon got the range effectively, well nigh demolishing the French oncession, and every house in the British quarter has baзn looted.
CANTONESE IN HIDING.
The Cantonese residents in Tientsin are
hiding in cellars and other places, as the Rus. sians are sparing no one that has a queue.
CAPTURE OF ENEMY'S MUNITIONS.
In a small arsenal ontside Tientsin. captured by the British and Russians, over 3,000,000 car. tridges and 37 Krupp field guns (brand new and packed in cases) were found. As Admiral Seymour's men were going by the Arsenal on the road back, a sentry challenged them.
TAKING THE ARSENAL.
Admiral Seymour offered the Russian Admiral the first chance of taking the place, but the latter said it could not be done. The Arsenal was firing on the columu, who retreated to the reeds by the river. The Admiral sent 400 of his marines, under Major Jo'instone, and 100 bluejackets to take the place. They got within 100 yards of it before they were discovered, and then they gave one rush and took it at the point of the bayonet. Several of the naval people were killed and wounded. All the British dead were properly buried and their graves marked. The Chinese cleared out of the Arsenal, in which were also found Maxim guns and field pieces, many splendid officer's swords, new sextants (with Kew certificates). and many Mannlicher rifles. None of the arms were of British make. One Maxim and a field gun were taken and the others destroyed.
A GLOOMY PREDICTION,
A report is current in the North that it will be impossible for troops to advance to the relief of Peking before the Ist of September, owing to the state of the roads. The enemy have cut the river banks and flooded the roads and made marching impossible.
THE BARFLEUR'S LOSSES. H.M.S. Barfleur is reported to have had the heaviest losses amongst the British fleet. some of her men now suffering from terrible injuries. The work of the ship itself is impeded by the number of men killed and wounded.
GALLANT MIDDIES.
That England's midshipmen are just as in days gone by was shown during the operations of Admiral Seymour's column. One juvenile wearer of the patch," belonging to H.M.S. Aurora, in one engagement was in the thick of the fire carrying messages to and fro when a Boxer fired at him at 10 yards range. The rifle ball passed through the youngster's helmet, clipping the top of his ear. He at once drew his revolver and shot his opponent in the throat, killing him. The lad is not much more than years of age. Another gallant middy, named Donaldson, of the Barfleur, was engaged in des- patch work during the fight and he was shot through the head and also through the legs. There were hopes that he would recover at first, but eventually he succumbed to his wounds.
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A GALLANT GUIDE.
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The people of Tientsin speak in glowing terms of the bravery of Mr. James Watts, son of the pilot at Taku. This young gentleman. with three Cossacks, set out from Tientsin to Taku to report the state of affairs, and the little party were several times fired upon. having to take shelter in the read-beds along the river. They got through safely and Mr. Watts piloted the Welsh Fusiliers and the Hongkong Regi- ment back to Tientsin. Mr. Watts has since been made a sub-lieutenant of the Tientsin volunteers.
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CHINA OVERLAND, 1 TRADE REPORT.
come out. The combined fleet at Taku numbers 88 vessels. The Heinchi passed the U.S. trans- ports Nashville and Zafiro on the 8th in the Gulf of Pechili bound for Taku. She also passed H.M.S. Whiting and a Japanese destroyer bound for Chefoo. The Japanese hospital ship Hakuai Maru arrived at Taku on the 7th inst.
THE U.8.8. PRINCETON.
The U.S.8. Princeton, is still in the harbour. It was understood that she would leave for the north on Saturday last.
THE MOUKDEN MURDERS.
The unfortunate victims who shared Bishop Guillon's fate on the 3rd inst. at Moukden were Fathers Emonet Corbel. Bourgeois. and Veuillemot, al two Sisters of Providence. Some of the Sisters were saved by Russian troops.
All the native Christians in Mo ukden have been murdered.
IMPERIAL DECREE.
INSTRUCTIONS TO CHINESE MINISTERS
ABROAD.
The following decree, for the translation of which we are indebted to the N. C. Daily News, was sent to Viceroy Lui Kung-yi and by him forwarde t› Ya Taotai at Shanghai. The degree is dated the 29th June and runs as fol- lows:
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tried to enter the Tunghua-gate of the For bidden City," almost by force. Had these foreign soldiers not been prevented by the Pa lace guards they would have succeeded in get- ting within the "Sacred Precincts." In con-- sequence of all this, anger was loudly expressed by both our soldiery and the masses, there was a union of dissatisfaction at the conduct of the Foreign Legation Guards which evil-minded men and outlaws immediately took advantage. of, and the worst passions of the masses being aroused, a series of massacres and pillaging of Christians followed in defiance of all laws. The various Powers then called for additional troops into Peking who, however, were opposed half- way by the anarchists and their followers. Fighting followed and the additional troops were compelled to retire.
At this crisis the anarchists and rebel popu-. lace of the two provinces of Chihli and Shan- tung had already spread chaos throughout the whole territory, forming one united body, which made it impossible for the Government to treat with them. It must be, however, noted that the Government wis never unwilling to send commands to the troops to vigorously suppress these anarchists and rebel populace, but owing to their near proximity, as it were under our very elbows, it followed that, if severe repressive measures were ordered, we would not be able to protect the Legations with as und a great ca- The fighting which has begun between ( hinalamity would at once ensue. There were also and foreign nations has been caused by a suc- fears that the rebel populace of both Chihli and cession of unlooked for circumstances and ad- Shantung would rise together at this crisis and verse incidents everywhere, all of which were unite in massaoring all missionaries and con- beyond the anticipation of the Government. verts within those provinces and leave none Our Ministers in foreign countries being separ- | alive. We were therefore forced to hesitate ated from their country by a succession of wide and consider the situation, the one course feasi- oceans naturally are unable to give reliable ble at the time being to request the Ministers versions of what has occurred in China to the at the various Legations to abandon Peking Governmen's to which they are severally accre- temporarily for Tientsin. dited. and consequently cannot speak with authority on the crisis nor on the real policy of the Government. It is our intention therefore to speak now in detail on the question for the special information of the said Ministers abroad. In the first place there sprang up in the pro- vinces of Chihli and Shantung a number of an- archists and rebels who settled down in the coun- try villages and began to teach the people boxing and quarterstaff exercises, mixing with these certain devilish incantations and invocations. The local authorities. concerned failed to awake
to the seriousness of this movement or suppress it in its infancy, hence the people began to be excited and restless, numbers joined, and within a tenth almost the whole countryside was filled with the followers of these anarchists], who spread up even to the very walls and precincts of Peking itself.
These anarchists, with their devilish charms and incantations were looked upon by the masses as imbued with supernatural powers, the number of believers accumulating daily. Then some of them began to turn their thoughts on chaos and rebellion, and started the cry against mis- sionaries and their converts.
Whilst this proposition was being dis- cussed between us, there suddenly came the news that the Minister for Germany, K'ê Tè-lin (Baron von Ketteler) had that inning, while proceeding to the Tsungli Yamên, been murdered by the anarchist enemies of the Christians. It appeared that the Ger man Minister had the day before notified by letter the Tsungli Yamên that he was going there the next day, but that owing to constant disturbances occurring on that route the Minis- ters of the said Yamên refused to consent to a
meeting with the said German Minister on that day. With the murder of the German Minister. the rebels found themselves caught in a dilemma from which there was no alternative save to go on in their reckless course, and as it appeared to the Government at the time that. in view of this, it would be unwise to send the various Ministers, although with strong escorts for their protection, to seek safety at Tientsin, the matter had perforce to be given up. The only course the Government could do was there- fore to issue stringent orders to the troops guarding the said Legations to be all the more on the look out, to keep strict watch over their safety and prevent sudden attack on them.
In the middle of June matters suddenly came to a head: churches and mission premises were At this crisis we were suddenly surprised to attacked, burned, and destroyed, converts were hear that General Lo Yung-kuang, command- ruthlessly massacred. the entire populace of ing our forts at Taku, had been personally ad- Peking were incited to rise, forming a fierce dressed on the 16th June by the Foreign officers and resistless avalanche which it was utterly in that vicinity who demanded the handing over impossible to keep back. Previous to this we of the said forts to the Foreign fleets which, if had received despatches from the Ministers of not done by 2 o'clock the next day, would be the various Powers in Peking asking to be forcibly taken possession of Naturally, Lo allowed to bring into the Capital Foreign troops Yung-kuang refused to do this. At the expira- to protect the Legations. The Goverment, who tion of the time the Foreign fleets indeed had by that time seem that matters were getting began to open fire at our forts and a battle serious, willingly went beyond the limit of in- ensued for the whole day, until at last our ternational law and gladly gave the required troops, unable to do more, abandoned the forts permission. The result was that some 500 for- to the Foreign troops. A war had thus · been eign troops entered Peking for that pur- commenced which was not of our beginning or pose. This is a clear proof of the solici- choosing. For you will perceive that, even if tude with which the Government regardhina should, regardless of her own power and the Representatives of friendly countries. In strength, rush into war, was it likely or reason ordinary times there had been no enmity be able that she would of her own accord elect to tween the members of the Legations and the fight all the Powers at once? Was it probable general masses in Peking, but when the foreign that granting such recklessness she would have troops came to the capital, instead of attending relied on a rebel populace to commence a war to the duties for which they had come, viz., against all the Powers? guarding the Legations, they wandered about, sometimes mounting the city walls and firing Prince Ching is said to be feeding the Euro-their rifles, and at other times patrolling the peans at Peking, but the report is not confirmed. streets so that people were repeatedly hit by the bullets fired by these Legation Guards. More than this; these soldiers were wont to ramble about beyond bounds and at times even
PBKING IN BAD PLIGHT. The last news from Peking at Tientsin was that there were only three days' provisions in the Legation and that the ammunition would last about that period.
GOOD IF TRUE.
MOVEMENTS OF SHIPS.
There was still one Chinese cruiser inside at Taku on the 7th, the fleet not allowing her to
We sincerely trust that the Governments of the various Powers when approached by Your Excellencies will take the above under their serious consideration and make allowances there. for, and that the said Governments be informed of the serious dilemma in which this Government has been placed, and that we were surrounded
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